The lived experiences of Korean immigrant caregivers after nursing home placement of their non -English -language speaking (NELS) elderly relatives with dementia

Korean immigrants are a rapidly growing ethnic group with a non-English speaking background (NESB) in the United States. No published study was found that described the post-nursing home placement experiences of Korean immigrant family caregivers. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of Korean immigrant caregivers who placed non-English-language speaking (NELS) elderly relatives with dementia in American nursing homes. This study used a qualitative descriptive method, conducting in-depth interviews to obtain data. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit informants in Philadelphia. Ten informants participated in the first interview and 7 informants from the same group participated in the second interview. Symbolic interactionism and cultural models were used as theoretical frameworks. Through a qualitative content analysis of interview data, two underlying themes and six major themes were identified. The two underlying themes, Korean way of thinking and beliefs about dementia, were the fundamental cultural models of caregiving and dementia. These two underlying themes greatly affected the experiences of informants related to nursing home placement. In relation to caregivers' experiences regarding nursing home placement, six major themes emerged: (1) I never thought about a nursing home; (2) Nursing home staff cannot communicate with Korean American residents; (3) If I think in a Korean way or If I compare with a Korean situation ...; (4) My care recipient maintains Korean culture; (5) Nursing home services are better than expected but ...; and (6) My care recipient is more vulnerable because of dementia. This study provides valuable knowledge to aid understanding the experiences of Korean immigrant caregivers after nursing home placement of their NELS relatives with dementia. More studies need to explore the experiences of minority family caregivers from NESB whose cultural values do not support nursing home placement, and difficulties and needs of family caregivers and nursing home staff.